Daniel Brooks: Man’s ‘agro’ Centrelink temper tantrum lands him behind bars

An Albury man’s ‘really frightening behaviour’ towards Centrelink staff saw him target a computer monitor, unleash some colourful language and dish out a threat.

An Albury man is behind bars after an ‘agro’ outburst over Centrelink payments. Picture: Stock Image.

A man’s “agro, anti-social behaviour” has landed him back behind bars after he had a monster tantrum over his Centrelink payments on the same day he was released from lockup.

On Monday Daniel Brooks appeared in Albury Local Court via video link after pleading guilty to intimidation, destroy/damage property, and common assault.

Court documents revealed at about 1.50pm on January 12, just hours after leaving court on a community corrections order, the 35-year-old visited the CVGT employment agency on Olive St and demanded the receptionist give him his Centrelink payments.

The female receptionist told Brooks his payments couldn’t be processed until January 13, after he’d had a meeting about his employment requirements.

Brooks started yelling at the receptionist and using offensive language before walking over to the branch manager’s office saying: “Just make me a f------ appointment now.”
The branch manager said she wouldn’t make him an appointment due to his behaviour and asked him to leave.

Brooks then walked out and sat at one of the computers which are used by clients. The branch manger and a male employee once again asked him to leave.

Brooks then took hold of the computer monitor and keyboard and tried to rip them from the wall. The computer monitor was left dangling by its wires, and the keyboard landed on the floor.

He yelled at the male employee: “You f------ gay c--- I’ve just come out of lock up.”

The male employee told Brooks he was calling the police.

Brooks said: “Do it. I’ll hit you.” At the time he was just 50cm from the employee’s face.

While police were obtaining information, they received a report Brooks had also thrown a rock through a window at a Bownds St address the day before.

Brooks was arrested later that day at The Hub employment agency after reports of a disturbance.

Brooks’ defence solicitor Samantha Little said Brooks had already spent 48 days in custody, and had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia, for which he was now taking medication.

She submitted that a suitable punishment would be a Community Corrections Order, with the condition that he see a psychiatrist within 48 hours.

Magistrate Funston said it was clear the threshold for jail had been crossed.

“I’d be prepared to find special circumstances but clearly he’s facing a jail sentence today,” Mr Funston said.

“It’s really frightening behaviour. They’re office workers just going about their business in Centrelink.

“Taking hold of computer monitors and keyboards and throwing keyboards across the room … It’s just agro, anti-social behaviour.”

Brooks was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, with a non-parole period of six-months, backdated to January 12, 2021.